Documentation and NFIRS Reporting

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jay Wieners on June 9, 2008 at 6:15pm

I think that some of these problems are universal, especially the illegibility and blank boxes. One thing that has worked for us as far as getting the paper report completed in a timely fashion is to put the roll call and equipment used information on the back of the NFIRS sheet. This ensures that the report is completed after each run. As far as the blank boxes, I suspect that a major cause is confusion created by the large selection of responses. While they may seem self explanitory to some, not all see them that way. To counteract this, a good narrative helps. It may be as simple as leaving a list of what needs to be included (type of construction, size of building, occupancy type, where the fire was, what was on fire, how far did it extend, how was it extinguished, etc.) I've found that some people are better off just writting out what happened, and this information can be used to figure out what should go in the boxes.

Permalink Reply by Richard Michitsch on June 10, 2008 at 5:19am

Chief,
Thanks for your response, I appreciate the information. I will work with my department to have the members write better narratives so that we can interpret and fill in the blanks with the correct information.
Thanks for your time.
DON’T be the next one, BE safe!
Richard

Permalink Reply by Anthony Avillo on June 14, 2008 at 6:54am

Education on the importance of the reports is the first action taken
If these members don't understand the importance of these reports and their timely and proper completion, maybe they are not qualified to be officers
A policy regarding the time parameters that the reports should be completed is another, but the policy must be consistently enforced by dept supervisors or it is not woirth the paper it is written on. This is the key to your whole problem -- no one wants to have the balls to step up to the plate -- sometimes a shot must be fired that is heard around the world
When all else fails, disciplinary action is the last resort
In a career dept, this is effective
at the volunteer level, it is more diificult -- possibly using progressive discipline might help with removal from the the officer position as a possibility
when the lawsuits from incomplete, inaccaurate reports start coming in and members who filled out those reports (or didn't fill them out) begin taking real heat (such as monetary fines), the tune may change
just trying to help
stay safe aa

Permalink Reply by Richard Michitsch on June 15, 2008 at 6:28am

Chief,
Thanks for the response. I can’t tell you how many times I bring up the fact that it’s all about Good Documentation Process (GDP), but no one seems to listen or care. Coming from a regulated industry working for a pharmaceutical company everything that I do at work is under the scrutiny of the federal government. I have carried this over to my company by procedurealizing requirements from the Division of Fire and Safety, NFPA, POSHA, and DOT. We have tried to implement these on a department level, but have had resistance: “are you kidding me”, “I’ll do it later”, “I don’t have time for this”, you get the picture. I guess the mentality of the volunteer still needs to come a long way from riding the rails. As I have said before, the course that you gave at the Monmouth Cty Fire Academy gave me the drive to make the proper changes in my company, so at least we are going in the right direction. I’ll just have to keep pushing for the same for my department.
Thanks for your support.
DON’T be the next one, BE safe.
Richard

Permalink Reply by Anthony Avillo on June 15, 2008 at 8:10am

sometimes enforcement thru treahcery is the alternative they leave u with
if the chief does not support and enforce, it will be his a**
if u only take care of your little part of the world, u r covered
stay safe
aa

Permalink Reply by Richard Michitsch on June 23, 2008 at 5:12pm

Chief,
I discussed the documentation issue with the Vice-President of the Department. We came up with a mutual possible solution to the documentation issue. We outright threatened them, that if the reports were not done by a certain date, the NIFRS committee would request that the Mayor and Council remove them from office. It seemed to have worked; since that time we have all but the most recent reports. I’ll take that for now.
I feel like I’m back in the 5th grade, “I’m gonna tell on you if you don’t stop.” This from adults, ha.
I appreciate your time.
I think that you may have one of my members in the Firefighter 1 class at Monmouth Cty, Austin Chang. He has enjoyed every minute so far. See you at the academy.
DON’T be the next one, BE safe!
Richard